The trees turned their million eyed gaze as underneath i passed
Over sacred stone and hallowed ground
To that mansion of the past
Colours bled into the breeze as near the flowers i danced
And beasts watched unseen from the places in between
The sun set behind the mountains
Like a remnant of the vast
as it painted the world with colours of time surpassed
up the ancient stairs I stepped, like so many before
Up to the old oak door
The mansion was of colour,
It’s walls a stony grey
The roof tiles glinted, a power made of clay
The paint upon the rampart was long ago dry
But still shone with the brightness of the everflowing sky
Stars began to shimmer
As that doorknob called to me
Singing a song of peace and everlasting tranquility
Inside a roar began, like the burning of a hearth
And the beasts began a chorus, with the coming of the dark
The inside smelled of spice, Like the cooking of a meal
And a dapper dog came forth, head bowed upon my heel
I fastened my cloak around his shoulders
And my hood upon his head
Never have I heard before, the joy to me he said
He led me to the sitting room
And sat me near the hearth
The room was lit with tiny lights
from a million tiny lamps
And the chairs were of a floral print, a masterful design
The tea there smelled of ink
And the food was dry as paper
The rats chattered for a story
So i took my pen and wrote
The story of the baker
The animals worked strangely
Throughout the night and day
to make the world keep turning
And the land beneath them stay
As the planet was ever changing, in the light of today
It was early in the morning
When at last i took my leave
I took with me a package, and a parcel full of tea
My yellow cloak once more was strung about my shoulders
And my hood was placed neatly upon a head of brownish hair
As a parting gift, i left with them from me
A golden coin from a very distant country
They took the gift with exhitment
And bid me haisty farewells
as they watched the ship upon the coin, drift in uncertain swells
Never again have i set foot inside that place
Even after the joyous excitement shone upon my face
I do hope the animals are living happily
As the seabirds sing to me
In that unforgettable distant country